Display devices and structures



May 21, 1963 s. MALAMUDE DISPLAY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July '7. 1960 A -r TDRNE Y:

m M W.

SIMON MAL AMI/DE May 21, 1963 s. MALAMUDE DISPLAY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July '7. 1960 INVENTOR S/Mo/v MAL AMUDE @fle/.

y 21, 1963 s. MALAMUDE 3,090,144

DISPLAY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES Filed July '7. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

SIMON MAL AMUDE May 21, 1963 s. MALAMUDE 3,090,144

DISPLAY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES Filed July 7. 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. F s/Mo/v MALAMUDE BY 1%m Ar nun/5Y4- 3,090,144 DISFLAY DEVICES AND STRUCTURES Simon Malamude, 10 Monroe St., New York 2, N.Y. Filed July 7, 1960, Ser. No, 41,379 Claims. (Cl. 40--124.1)

This invention relates to display devices, advertising and direct mail .pieces, greeting cards and toys, etc. More particularly, it is directed to collapsible structures which can be conveniently maintained in a flat storage position and which are automatically movable to an erect position under their own power.

There are many instances when it is desirable to have a display device or an advertising or mailing piece or a greeting card or a toy, etc., which can be used to produce a three-dimensional effect, but which are also collapsible for mailing, storage, or packaging purposes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide extremely unique structures of the kinds mentioned which may "be used to produce and create three-dimensional effects; and which are readily stored and packaged in a completely collapsed position until released.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an operating mechanism for collapsible type structures aforesaid which will automatically move the collapsed parts toward an erect position when opened.

A further object is to provide structures as aforesaid embodying a plurality of such operating mechanisms.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible type display device which can be readily severed from its supporting panels for use as an erect display assembly.

Still a more specific object of the present invention is to provide structures as aforesaid in which the movable parts are constantly urged toward opened, erected position by means of an elastic band, which structures are further provided with self-contained stop means which limit movement of the structures between the collapsed, closed position and the erected open position in order to maintain the parts in a proper relationship at all times.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a display device made in accordance with one form of the present invention in an erected .open position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the parts in a partially collapsed position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a blank from which the mechanism for automatically effecting the aforesaid operation of the mentioned structures is constructed;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the blank shown in FIGURE 3 in a partially assembled position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism aforesaid in an assembled relationship before being combined with the supporting panels;

FIGURE 6 is a View of the operating mechanism shown in FIGURE 5 in a fully collapsed position;

FIGURE 7 is a view akin to FIGURE 1, of a modified form of device embodying a display unit which can be detached from the shipping portion of the whole structure.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the display unit after detachment from the whole structure shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of still another form of a structure in accordance with the present invention in a partially collapsed position;

3,@,l44 Patented May 21, 1963 FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIGURE 9, in a fully erect position;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention in the form of a toy comprising a plurality of operating mechanisms aforesaid in a partially collapsed position;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIGURE 11, in a fully erected open position;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of this invention (useful as a toy or display device, etc.), in fully erected open position;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIGURE 13, in partially collapsed position.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, a display device 10 made in accordance with one formof the present invention is shown to include a base panel 12 and a cover panel 14, hingedly connected along a fold line 16' for predetermined movement between a fully closed and an open position.

With further reference now to FIGURES 3 to 6 of the drawing, an operating mechanism 20 for use with the structures made in accordance with the present invention, is shown to include a blank 21 having a plurality of spaced apart parallel fold lines 24 dividing it into four sides 22, one terminal side being further provided with an extended tab 23 which is folda ble about a fold line 2 5. The side adjacent the opposite terminal side is provided at each end with a rectangularly shaped tab 29, each being foldable about a fold line 34 in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. Each rectangular tabis formed into a pair of triangular portions 30 by a fold line 32 along the common hypotenuse. One such triangular portion of each tab is provided with an extension Web 36 that is foldable about a fold line 38 for attachment to the next adjacent side 22 of the blank. With the tabs so connected, the terminal extension tab 28 is connected to the side 22 at the opposite end of the blank. The fold line between each end of one of the sides and an adjacent one ofthe sides 22 is provided with a slot 4% at each end. An elastic band 44 is then placed diametrically around the parallelopipedonic form properly positioned within the slots 40, 4-0 at the opposite longitudinal ends and diametrically opposite edges thereof.

In the collapsed position of the operating mechanism 20, the triangular portions of the tabs extend inwardly into the interior of the device one upon the other, with the diametrically opposite edges that are encircled by the elastic band in spaced apart relationship with one pair of sides 22 upon the other such pair of sides 22. As a result, there is a continuous force exerted by the elastic band 44 tending to draw the diametrically opposite edges toward each other so as to urge the form into an erect position, and which is prevented from continuing there beyond to a collapsed position by the alignment of the triangular portions of the tabs which then close the ends of the prismatic form and limit movement of the form beyond the erect position once they have become coextensively aligned with each other.

When the operating mechanism is used with the assembly used in FIGURES 1 and 2, a display panel 48 is secured to one side 22 of the operating mechanism, and a drop panel 46 may be secured to an opposite side thereof. With the panels 48, 46 mounted upon the operating mechanism in the collapsed position shown in FIGURE 2, the cover panel 14 will maintain the parts in the collapsed position against action of the elastic band 44. However, as soon as the cover panel 14 is opened, the elastic band 44 will :draw all of the parts of the operating mechanism and the supported panels 4-6, 48 to the vertical erect position shown in FIGURE 1. As a result, this device can be readily placed within a mailing envelope or placed in any flat storage position and automatically erected upon the opening of a cover panel 14.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawing, a slightly modified form of construction 50 is shown wherein the base panel 52 also pivotally supports the cover panel 54 along the fold line 56. In this embodiment, however, the base panel 52 is provided with a perforation line 6! that defines a severable section 58 upon which the operating mechanism' 20 is supported, together with the associated display panels 62, 64 mounted upon the opposite sides 22 of the operating mechanism. As a result, the severable section 58 may be removed from the main base panel 52 and the cover panel 54 for display or advertising purposes apart from the main base panel 52 and cover panel 54, which serve as shipping containers.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 9 and of the drawing in which still another embodiment 70 of the. present invention is shown to include a base panel 72 and a cover panel 74 hingedly connected thereto along a fold line 76. One side 22 of the operating mechanism 20 is secured to the base panel 72, in the manner hereinbefore described. In this embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary panels 78, each having a hinge tab 80 at one end is secured to the base panel 72, whereby all of the auxiliary panels 78 are hingedly mounted upon the base panel 72 for movement about the fold line 82 between the tab 80 and each such auxiliary panel. An inelastic strip 84 is hingedly connected to the free edge of each such auxiliary panels 78 by means of L-shaped hinge tabs 86 and is adhered to the topside 23 of operating mechanism 20. The display panel 77 is secured to the front one of .the sides 22 of the operating mechanism, whereby each of the auxiliary panels 78 will follow the movements of the display panel 77 between the collapsed storage position shown in FIGURE 9 and the erect position shown in FIGURE 10. t

In FIGURES 11 and 12 of the drawing, there is shown a further embodiment 9!) which is useful as a toy or a greeting card or an advertising mailing piece. The base panel 92 thereof is hingedly connected to the cover panel 94 along the fold line 96. In this embodiment, the base panel also supports a compound, i.e., articulated erectable member 98.

The member 98 comprises a lower element 99 and an upper element 191, each element having an operating mechanism aforesaid. Element 99 comprises a front panel'100 and a back panel 196, each of equal length, and an interconnecting top cross panel 192. Panels 100, 102 and 106 may be formed from a single strip of mate rial provided with suitable fold lines, as at 103 and 103'. The lower ends of panels 100 and 106 are adhered to oppositely disposed vertical sides (when erected) of operating mechanism 2% Operating mechanism 20 is adhered to the base panel 92. The upper element 161 comprises a second operating mechanism 29' (akin to 2d), the bottom side of 20 being adhered to the top side cross panel 102. Element 101 includes a front panel 109 which is adhered to the front side of 20', and a foldable forwardly disposed extension 109', foldable at fold line 104. A rearwardly extending panel 111 is adhered to the topside of 29'.

In FIGURES l3 and 14, the display device comprises a base panel 150, and cover panel 151 hingedly connected along fold line 152. Operating mechanism 2t) is mounted on 150. Operating mechanism 29 also has afixed to its topside a panel 154 in spaced apart relationship with panel 159. Operating mechanism 20 also has affixed to it a vertically erectable panel 156. Panels 160 and 162 are disposed intermediate of panels 150 and 154 and are carried by readily yieldable helical spring elements 179. Mounted atop 154 are panels 172 and 174 which are likewise carried by readily yieldable helical springs 176. Panels 180 and 182 are mounted on 154 rearwardly of panel 156. Panels and 182 are carried by helical springs 186. Panels 19%, 192 and 194 are mounted on the forward face of panel 156 by means of helical springs 196 akin to the springs aforementioned.

The various embodiments of the present invention may thus effectively serve the purposes described, which can be mailed and may be readily stored in the fiat collapsed position for prolonged periods of time without damage to the working parts. In each case, movement of the cover panel to the open position automatically allows the op erating mechanism or operating mechanisms to move the displayable components to the erect position in an effective and novel manner.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the various forms of construction shown in the several views of the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A display device comprising, in combination, a base panel and a cover panel hingedly connected together for selective movement between an open and closed position, a display panel, and an operating mechanism carried upon said base panel supporting said display panel for movement between a folded position between said base and cover panels and an erect position upstanding from said base panel in response to movement of said cover panel to said open position, wherein said operating mechanism comprises a substantially hollow prism having two pairs of sides hingedly connected together for selected movement between a collapsed position of one pair of sides upon the other and an erect hollow parallelopipedon form, a single one of said sides being secured upon said base panel, stop means limiting movement of said sides beyond said erect position from said collapsed position, and yieldable means acting between diametrically opposite edges of said parallelopipedon form yieldably urging said prism toward said erect position, wherein said stop means comprises a pair of tabs one hingedly carried at one edge by one end of a single side of one pair of sides, and another edge of each of said pair of tabs being hingedly connected to an adjacent one of said sides, each one of said tabs having a diametrical fold line defining a pair of triangular portions movable between a collapsed position one on top of the other and an axially aligned position in response to movement of said parallelopipedon between said collapsed and erect positions, whereby said triangular portions of tabs in said aligned position prevent continued movement of said prism beyond said erect position from said collapsed position.

2. A display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yieldable means comprises an elastic band encircling said diametrically opposite edges of said prisms, wherein the opposite ends of said pair of sides define inwardly extending slots guidingly receiving said elastic band therewithin, said slots being formed in said diametrically opposite edges of said prism.

3. A display device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a row of auxiliary display panels pivotally mounted at one end upon said base panel for hinged movement between a collapsed position and an erect position, and an elongated motion transmitting strip connected to the free end of all of said auxiliary panels and a single one of said diametrically opposite edges of said parallelopipedon spaced from said one side secured upon said base panel, whereby movement of said prism between said collapsed position and said erect position effects movement of said row of auxiliary panels to said erect position.

4. A display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said tab comprises a pair of identical right triangular wall portions each one-half the cross sectional area of said parallelopipedon in said erect position, said diagonal fold 5 line of said tabs comprising the hypotenuses of said right iriangular Walls.

5. A display device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yieldable means comprises an elastic band encircling said diametrically opposite edges of said prisms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,404,089 Pollock July 16, 1946 6 Ditzler June 24, 1952 Jannes May 6, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 24, 1937 France Apr. 23, 1952 France July 29, 1957 

1. A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE PANEL AND A COVER PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITION, A DISPLAY PANEL, AND AN OPERATING MECHANISM CARRIED UPON SAID BASE PANEL SUPPORTING SAID DISPLAY PANEL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FOLDED POSITION BETWEEN SAID BASE AND COVER PANELS AND AN ERECT POSITION UPSTANDING FROM SAID BASE PANEL IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER PANEL TO SAID OPEN POSITION, WHEREIN SAID OPERATING MECHANISM COMPRISES A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW PRISM HAVING TWO PAIRS OF SIDES HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER FOR SELECTED MOVEMENT BETWEEN A COLLAPSED POSITION OF ONE PAIR OF SIDES UPON THE OTHER AND AN ERECT HOLLOW PARALLELOPIPEDON FORM, A SINGLE ONE OF SAID SIDES BEING SECURED UPON SAID BASE PANEL, STOP MEANS LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID SIDES BEYOND SAID ERECT POSITION FROM SAID COLLAPSED POSITION, AND YIELDABLE MEANS ACTING BETWEEN DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID PARALLELOPIPEDON FORM YIELDABLY URGING SAID PRISM TOWARD SAID ERECT POSITION, WHEREIN SAID STOP MEANS COMPRISES A PAIR OF TABS ONE HINGEDLY CARRIED AT ONE EDGE BY ONE END OF A SINGLE SIDE OF ONE PAIR OF SIDES, AND ANOTHER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID PAIR OF TABS BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO AN ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SIDES, EACH ONE OF SAID TABS HAVING A DIAMETRICAL FOLD LINE DEFINING A PAIR OF TRIANGULAR PORTIONS MOVABLE BETWEEN A COLLAPSED POSITION ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER AND AN AXIALLY ALIGNED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID PARALLELOPIPEDON BETWEEN SAID COLLAPSED AND ERECT POSITIONS, WHEREBY SAID TRIANGULAR PORTIONS OF TABS IN SAID ALIGNED POSITION PREVENT CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF SAID PRISM BEYOND SAID ERECT POSITION FROM SAID COLLAPSED POSITION. 